#35: Going Back to Work After the Holidays: A Return to Your Inner World

burnout intimacy therapy Sep 04, 2025

Returning to work after the holidays can bring up a mix of emotions: dread, fatigue, grief, and even relief.

The shift from rest and connection back into routine and productivity is often more than just a scheduling change. The emotional shifts reflect something deeper: a psyche, body, and spirit transition.

We reflect on what many of us feel but rarely name: the post-holiday dip. We explore why this tender transition can feel so destabilising as we head back to the office after summer holidays, what it may be revealing beneath the surface, and how to meet it with curiosity and care. We invite a stress-free return to the office and prepare our nervous system for the next vacation.

Saying "Au Revoir" to Vacation Time

We’re often taught to think of vacation time as a luxury. Something separate from “real life.” But for many, holidays offer something essential: rest, connection, time with loved ones, and space to breathe.

When the holiday break ends, you may find yourself grieving more than just time off. You might be leaving behind a way of being that felt more like you.

That sudden change in pace, going from presence to pressure, stillness to urgency, can stir up emotional fatigue, anxiety, or even post-holiday blues. And if your energy levels were already running low before the break, it can feel even heavier.

The Hollow Between Rest and Responsibility

The lead-up to the holidays probably looked like...

It was tinged with burnout.

Environmental stressors you want respite from.

A packed calendar.

Neglected self-care.

Your well-being is gently worn down.

Before the holidays, many people arrive at therapy burnt out, navigating a busy schedule, high-functioning stress, and disconnection from themselves.

Then the holidays come. Maybe you will finally get enough sleep. Maybe you have a few days without the noise. You feel more grounded, more whole.

There was a joy in the menial tasks like washing the dishes because the noise around it was quieter.

Then, upon arrival, like clockwork, your mind begins to unfurl the planning, to-do lists, and schedules. You get back into the swing of things. All the while, your mind drifts to the quiet state of consciousness you experienced wandering unfamiliar streets, smelling new smells, and floating in calm seas. You're dreaming of a longer vacation, wishing for extra time off.

That’s the post-holiday dip.

How to Stay With Yourself When the Rhythm Shifts

There’s wisdom in your response to this transition. Rather than pushing through, it’s worth tuning in to what may be falling away and what’s needed to return to yourself.

One of the things we support clients with in therapy is identifying protective factors. The personal rhythms, rituals, and relationships that keep you well.

These might include:

Movement or physical activity
Restorative time with loved ones
Creative expression or daily journaling
Morning walks, a cup of tea, or simply time to yourself

If you notice those habits slipping, or you start feeling disconnected from your daily routine, it’s a signal from your system asking for more care.

You might notice:

Resistance to work tasks or your work routine
Avoiding your to-do list or piling unread emails
A pull towards negative feelings or emotional numbness
A tendency to bury yourself in busy work rather than connect

These are valid signs. And they’re worth listening to.

Anchoring in Small Moments of Connection

We often think rest and joy belong only to holidays, but what if we wove those qualities into our everyday lives? Small intentional acts like a slow cup of tea, a check-in with a friend, or five minutes of breath and stillness can make our daily routine feel less like a grind and more like a life.

These moments don’t have to be big. They just have to be consistent enough to remind us that we are human, not machines.

Try:

A mindful lunch break with no screen
Lighting a candle before starting your work day
A gentle check-in call with someone who sees you
Taking short breaks just to stretch and breathe
A short walk, exploring to find something new on your street that you've never noticed before

These quiet rituals can become anchors. They remind you that curiosity and connection to place can be found through a perspective shift. Holidays can be a gateway to rediscovering the context around us and our sense of self.

The Quiet Power of Rituals & Support After a Long Break

Many people feel an unexpected sense of relief when work routines return, whether that’s a work schedule, childcare, or a structured work environment. When paired with self-awareness, these systems can bring steadiness after the openness of a holiday break.

If you’re in a home office or a remote job, creating simple rituals around your start and end times can help reintroduce boundaries. Rituals like a defined workspace, slow morning coffee, or a short walk signal the end of the day.

If you’re in a leadership position, consider how your employees might also be navigating this transition. Small adjustments or check-ins can go a long way in creating a smooth transition and a healthy work-life balance.

When structure is conscious, not rigid, it becomes a kind of scaffolding.
It helps hold your day in place, so you don’t have to rely on willpower alone.

Beyond personal habits, community matters. Sharing space with others who are recalibrating their energy, finding their feet again, and adjusting to being “back on” can create a sense of normalcy. Group programmes and shared conversations offer an opportunity to feel supported, exchange practical strategies, and realise you're not the only one still adjusting.

Ease Into Work Mode Without Losing Yourself

There’s often pressure to hit the ground running. But at Hue Therapy, we invite you to go gently.

Here’s a soft-start to-do list for your first week back:

Skim your inbox, then flag what matters
Tackle only one or two urgent tasks per day
Reconnect with team members without the pressure to perform
Create an extra day buffer for administrative tasks and loose ends
Resist the urge to “catch up” all at once

This is not about perfection. It’s about protecting your nervous system as you ease out of vacation mode and into rhythm.

When Should You Reach Out for Extra Support?

If you’re finding it hard to “bounce back” after a long holiday, you don’t need to push through.

Therapy can be a space to:

Reconnect with your internal rhythm
Re-evaluate what “productive” even means to you
Process post-vacation depression, burnout, or emotional depletion
Remember that wellness is the foundation, not the reward

Sometimes what feels like a time-management issue is actually your body saying: I need more care. I need something to shift.

How do You Build a Life You Don’t Need a Vacation From?

This is one of the deeper inquiries we explore at Hue Therapy.

Rather than waiting for your next holiday to feel free, what if you could design a life that feels more spacious, more you, every day?

That might look like:

Reshaping your work habits to reflect your real needs
Carving time for each other, for creativity, for stillness
Saying yes more slowly, and no more easily
Choosing rhythms that honour your nervous system, not override it

If you're stuck in a cycle of stress, exhaustion, and frustration that feels impossible to break, I invite you to explore the 12-Week Stress & Burnout Program.

Through one-on-one weekly sessions with Kerime, you'll explore the root causes of your burnout and walk away with a self-care framework that helps you honour your nervous system instead of overriding it.